Lead Hardware Engineer

Adac Automotive - Grand Rapids, MI

Full-time - Mid Level

Grand Rapids, MI

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing

About the position

The Lead Hardware Engineer will be responsible for leading the design and development of next-generation access systems, ensuring that hardware requirements are met while collaborating with various teams including customers, suppliers, and internal engineers. This role involves managing hardware architecture, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. The engineer will also mentor junior engineers and participate in process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers, suppliers, and ADAC engineers to identify, develop, and manage hardware requirements, architecture, design, and test specifications.
• Lead the hardware design of next-generation access systems by planning tasks, identifying, and mitigating risks, and guiding junior engineers.
• Participate in the System DFMEA, create, update, and release the hardware DFMEA, and utilize it to drive a more robust design.
• Work with the Functional Safety Manager to follow relevant ISO26262 requirements to ensure the assigned safety level is achieved when required by the customer.
• Perform simulations to identify design weaknesses as early as possible during development.
• Collaborate with the software team to ensure successful system design and communication of hardware/software interfaces.
• Work with mechanical engineers to determine the best package space to meet customer requirements and propose solutions that minimize risk.
• Lead hardware design and requirements verification, including worst-case circuit calculations.
• Support the test lab with the creation and evaluation of verification equipment and provide procedural recommendations.
• Lead EMC testing to ensure design compliance with customer requirements.
• Investigate alternative suppliers of electronic content for non-directed-buy products.
• Utilize various methods to evaluate, assess, and troubleshoot electronics content in the core product base.
• Support the technical aspect of program bids to customers by proposing designs and presenting at customer technical reviews.
• Participate in hardware process improvement initiatives.
• Mentor junior engineers to grow their technical capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Computer or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Hardware design experience.
• 5+ years of work experience, automotive experience preferred.
• Ability to launch and lead product development with some supervision.
• Ability to work with Global Teams.

Nice-to-haves

• Project or Product Leadership experience preferred.
• Ability to use Oscilloscopes, Vector Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, and other analysis tools.
• Experience with Altium Designer.
• Ability to root cause issues utilizing 8D and Fishbones.
• Ability to contribute to peer design and schematic reviews.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies, processes, or skills.
• Ability to communicate complex information at a level that can be understood by varying levels of experience.